Springfield Avoids Vow To Restore Police Post

October 28, 1992|by ELIZABETH EVANS, Special to The Morning Call

Springfield Township supervisors last night listened to two residents' complaints about partial state police coverage within the township, but hedged on whether they would discuss reinstating an eliminated township police position for 1993.

Supervisor Charles J. Morton did say that a large carryover in the township's general fund at the end of fiscal 1992 could mean discussion about the police position, which was axed because of the township's financial woes.

But he said a large carryover would prompt discussion about many options. Morton would not say with any certainty whether the position would be a discussion priority for supervisors.

State police patrol the township every third shift to compensate for the lost township position.

Later in the meeting, township resident Duane Elinich complained to supervisors that state police did not respond when his son's bicycle was stolen; he said he was told by state police that they did not handle certain types of calls for the township.

State police finally agreed to handle the call but told Elinich he would have to wait 45 minutes for trooper response.

"Thank God it wasn't something more serious," Elinich said.

Elinich questioned whether the state police should be covering the township in lieu of an extra township officer.

"We're placing our children and our families' safety in your hands," he said to supervisors.

"I think we're just asking for problems."

A letter to supervisors written by resident Richard Alder also expressed dissatisfaction with state police response, citing an incident of vandalism that state police did not handle.

Morton reminded residents that using state police to cover for township police is "only an experiment" and predicted further problems.

A spokesman for state police at Dublin recently explained to The Morning Call that on many nights, only two cruisers are patrolling a large area of Upper Bucks County.

If both cruisers are busy, response time could be delayed, but other police departments could be called in for backup, the state police spokesman said.